Home care for children by age and when to see the pediatrician

Infants up to one year

The baby is fed according to age, sleeps on the back and is observed for feeding, urination and behavior. Babies under 3 months with a temperature of 38 °C or higher need urgent assessment. For babies aged 3 to 6 months, a temperature of 39 °C or higher requires prompt assessment. Honey is not given to a baby before one year.

Complementary feeding starts at around six months, with one new food at a time and in a texture safe for the age. Foods that can block the airway, such as whole nuts, whole grapes and hard pieces, are not given before the appropriate age. Teething and gum itching do not cause a high fever; do not explain a fever by teething alone.

Children 1 to 5 years

At this age children often catch viral infections, especially at nursery or kindergarten, with a runny nose, cough and a short fever. Frequent fluids, rest and airing of the room are usually enough. Cleaning the nose with saline helps breathing and drinking.

Appetite-driven eating should not be forced; a child’s day may have uneven meals. Regular sleep, outdoor activity and limiting long screen time help development. Special care is needed to protect against falls, burns, choking, poisoning and water.

School-age children and adolescents

In school age, most problems are upper respiratory infections, abdominal pain, headaches and tiredness. Enough sleep, regular meals, physical activity and handwashing significantly reduce illness. Recurrent headache, abdominal pain that wakes the child at night, weight loss or a change in behavior call for assessment.

In adolescents, mood changes, withdrawal from friends, loss of interest or persistent complaints with no clear cause should not be minimized. A calm, open conversation without judgment helps the young person speak; when concern persists, seek professional help.

Medicines and the first aid kit

Do not give a child medicines without guidance on the dose by weight and age. Check the ingredients so that you do not give two products with the same active substance. Aspirin is not given to children without a specialist indication. Antibiotics do not treat viral infections and are not given without a prescription.

Keep all medicines, vitamins and iron preparations closed and out of children’s reach. Keep at home a digital thermometer, saline, oral rehydration solution and emergency numbers. Check expiry dates.

Safety at home

Most accidents in young children can be prevented. Never leave a child alone in the bath or near water, even for a moment. Keep chemicals, detergents, button batteries and magnets away from children. Protect the kitchen and stoves, keep hot coffee and tea away from the table edge and fit guards on windows and stairs.

In the car the child always travels in a seat suited to weight and age. Do not smoke in the home or car. Sunscreen, a hat and shade protect the skin; babies under six months are kept out of direct sun.

Daily routine: sleep, food and hygiene

A steady routine helps a child feel secure and makes it easier to notice changes when they fall ill. Enough sleep for age, regular meals with fruit, vegetables, protein and grains, drinking water and free time for play outdoors are the foundation of a child’s health. Sugary drinks and heavily processed foods are kept to small amounts.

Washing hands with soap and water before eating, after the toilet and after coming home is the simplest measure against infections. A child with fever or diarrhea stays at home until the general condition improves, to rest and to avoid spreading illness to others. Dental care begins with the first tooth and continues with brushing twice a day.

Frequently asked questions from parents

How long should I wait before contacting the doctor about a cold? An ordinary cold lasts a few days to a week and a half. Contact the doctor sooner if there is difficulty breathing, fever lasting more than 3 days, ear pain, refusal to drink or a worsening condition. Do not wait with a fever in an infant under 3 months.

Which medicines should I keep at home? A digital thermometer, saline for the nose, oral rehydration solution and a fever reducer suitable for age, with the doctor’s guidance on the dose by weight. Antibiotics are not kept in reserve and are not given without a prescription.

How do I prevent accidental poisoning? Keep all medicines, vitamins, detergents, button batteries and chemical products closed, in a high place. Do not transfer chemicals into drink bottles and do not call medicines “candy”. Keep the emergency number visible.

How much screen time is acceptable? Limited time adapted to age, with quality content and no screens during meals or before sleep, helps sleep and development. Infants under two years benefit more from direct interaction, play and reading with a parent.

When to see the pediatrician

Contact the pediatrician when a fever lasts more than 3 days, when the child does not drink or urinate as usual, has persistent vomiting or diarrhea, cough or difficulty breathing, ear pain, worsening abdominal pain, or is clearly more lethargic than usual. Trust your own sense as a parent as well: if something seems wrong, it is worth asking.

Regular growth and development check-ups, vaccination according to the schedule and a conversation with the pediatrician about feeding, sleep and behavior are part of everyday care, not only of illness. For any condition under follow-up, the pediatrician sets visits every 6 months, at most within a year, or sooner when they consider it reasonable.

Care at Tirana Polyclinic: we offer pediatric consultation and interpretation of the results of tests performed outside the clinic. In an emergency or when the condition needs hospital care, the child is referred immediately to the appropriate service.